The SlideShot Camera Slider System

Towards the end of 2014, we were contacted by Graham Moffatt from SlideShot in Preston who invited us to road test his camera slider. At Gorgeous Media we already use camera sliders - they look fairly unimpressive - essentially just a rail along which you can run your camera. However, the results always amaze me. A slider enables you to keep that camera moving which is a technique used all the time in film and drama these days.

 Graham's slider incorporates the design technology of Franke Bearings - a German company which produces precision bearings. Now then, I am no engineer - I don't pretend to understand bearings. However, I do know a smooth camera slider system when I get my hands on one, and this system is something else! Prior to using the SlideShot, I had worked with a 50cm and 1 metre camera glider. However, I found that they both had limitations due mainly to their stickiness. I film a lot of events, documentaries and weddings where I have to move quickly and think on my feet: The sliders I was used to working with often stick mid slide which means that you have to do three or four or five takes to get the shot you want. I had developed my own technique and worked out that with just the right amount of pressure/resistance, I could achieve a good slide. However, it's never certain with these gliders - they also tend to be a bit rickety and I always have to go on location with them with a screwdriver and allen key in my pocket (which can be dangerous if you bend in the wrong direction!).

Anyway, with the SlideShot, I didn't come across these problems at all. This is a really solid, sturdy piece of kit - don't let the narrowness of the rail deceive - it is really solid. The bearings just slide they never stick. I think that the bearings work in a different way because they just seem to fit the rail really snuggly - hence there is no wobble-room whatsoever. The benefits of this SlideShot's slide-y-ness are manifold. I found that within no time I was able to concentrate on sliding and panning at the same time - it gives me the confidence to try more complex shots which I wouldn't do with my old system because all my effort go into stopping the jitter. This ease of movement means that I can nail a slide shot in as few as 2 takes (I always do 2 takes as standard anyway). This gives me more time on set to get more quality shots. Time is all important in this game, and the SlideShot is definitely king!

This is a product still under development - Graham is developing new legs and is interested to develop his product to suit the camera operator - that's brilliant. Seriously though, I'd recommend this product to filmmakers everywhere. If you've already got a slider system, get this one and make the other one your first reserve. If you've never had a slider system before, treat yourself - it'll be worth it. Maybe I am a nerd: I make no apology for that - I just couldn't believe it when I had my first go with the SlideShot - you just have to tilt the rail and the carriage slides...beautifully - to a film-maker it really is poetry in motion. Below is a film I make on Morecambe Stone Jetty - it probably took half an hour to film with no more than 2 shots per take. Have a look at the SlideShot site - http://www.slideshot.co.uk

Saved - Music Video

Now then.  Here we are.  2015 already.  Who'd have thought.  How can the Millennium be 15 years ago?  I thought I'd just update you about a few things we were  doing towards the end of last year.  Firstly, our music video.  We produced the film, "Saved" for local artist Dean Buckingham who is signed with Swedish Record Production Company, Sweden Got Soul.

Dean had already had a video produced for this song but just couldn't get on with it, so he was on a mission to find a company who could come up with a simple concept to put a face to the song.  We had several production meetings beforehand to come up with a format that Dean felt most comfortable with.  And the result is what you see below.  We decided that we would work between two locations - the studio and the Quay/Millennium Bridge in Lancaster.  We wanted to film the exterior shots at night.  However night shooting obviously is a challenge to make the shot look dark even though it is lit... and also how to light it at all.  Our solution was to buy three very powerful torches and create a three point lighting set up.  It was all very Heath Robinson, but it works a treat.  Our key and fill lights were covered with grease proof paper to diffuse the light.

Now then, the song is slow and smoochy.  We knew that we needed a visual style which complimented the style of the song and our solution was to slow down the footage of the night shots. This is an interesting technique and takes quite a bit of practise on the part of the performer - Dean had to sing the song at double speed so that we could then slow it back down so that when it played in real time it appeared to be slow motion.  This posed a challenge for Dean as the song is fairly loaded with words anyway!

The strength of Gorgeous Media is our ability to respond to a range of briefs - be it documentary, music video, animation, wedding film.  That's what keeps us fresh, gives us creative energy and it's much, much more fun than just being a one trick pony.